The Jakarta Post, 9/9/2004 9:34:07 PM
Australian diplomats, families may go home
JAKARTA (JP): The Australian Embassy is allowing on Thursday its staff to return to
Australia for security reason after a powerful blast killing seven people and injuring 161
people.
"We are now allowing voluntary deportation to our embassy's staff. They and their
family may choose to return to Australia for security reason after the blast," said
press attache Elizabeth O'Neill.
"The Australian Embassy will be closed until a certain notice therefore normal
businesses would be suspended. No casualties happened to the Australian embassy
employees."
The embassy sent SMSs and e-mails to all the Australian citizens here to kept the
community aware.
She refused to give any official statement on the bombing itself, saying statement
would be given by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in the press conference later
today.
Separately, deputy director of external relations of PT Rio Tinto Indonesia, Anang
Noor said that it was too early to say the bombing would affect the company's
investment.
"This (bombing) will of course be taken into consideration to be more alert.
"Previous bombings in Bali and JW Mariot Hotel did not directly affect our operation
as most of it is in remote areas," he said.
Anang, however, said the company applies emergency plan and increasing its
security status to 'alert'.
"We let the employees to decide whether to come to the office on Friday," he said.
Rio Tinto Indonesia's office is located several hundred meters from the embassy. (***)
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